Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1887-11-08
OPINIONS OF THE PRESS.
Shall the Anarchists bang?-A General
Affirmative.

Shall the Anarchists fang?-A General
Affirmative.
NEW YORK, November Under the
head of Facts aud Gush" the Tribune
this morning says:
1--WE feel that We are performing pub
lie service in laying before our
readers the summary we print on
another page of the decision of the Hi
nois Supreme Court in the Anarchist cases.
We ask all persons whose faith in the JUS
tice of the conviction of these men, may
have been shaken by loud talk of Socialist
demaeogues and the soft-hearted appeals of
sentimentalists to read it. These
people have had most OF the
talk to themselves, while the great patient
public has been silent the result has been
that many well meaning persons, whose
sympathies are with justice are getting
the impression that these men are to he
honged for expressing opinions" The
truth is, on the contrary, that they are to
be hanged for participating in one Of the
most deliberate and diabolical conspiracies
for murder and assassination ever devised
by man"
The Herald says:
"We hesitate to express an opinion in
regard to human beings whose lives are
hanging in the balance, but society
DESIRES SOME CONSIDERATION
in the presence of a crime as fierce as that
committed by these condemned, and which
it would seem they were preparing to
repeat. Governor 0glesby has expressed
no opinion as to what his ac-
ton will be in regard to these
criminals, with him lies the power of par
don or reprieval. Ii they are tn die on
Friday, humanity would dictate that they
should know their fate in time to make de-
cent preparations for the end. Governor
Oglesbev has had weeks, even months, in
which to examine this case. His delay
adds the inhumanity OF torture to what
may be terrible punishment.
The Times says: In general it is
very ungracious act to interpose in any
way between a person under sentence OF
death and the official to whom an appeal Is
made on his behalf for executive
clemency.' The case of the condemned an
archists.' does not come within the general
rule. Petitions for communication
of their sentence have been signed by sev-
eral citizens of high standing, who pnt
their appeals solely upon the ground OF pub,
lie policy. There are other petitioners and
other signers who are of the soft-hearted
and soft-headed class who cry out if any
body should be doomed to death by law
for any offense whatsoever. There
is no use in discussing anything with these
people. Ii no Others had appealed to the
Governor Of Illinois for mercy there would
be no occasion for any remarks by
those whose interest in the matter IL SIM
ply that of supporters Of order and friends
of civilization, but il those who hold that
JUSTICE AND POLICY REQUIRE
that the sentence of the Court should be
executed remain silent, Governor Oglesby
will he justified in,supposing they acquies-
ced in the appeal made to him to spare
the lives of the murderers. Clearly there
was never a case that appealed less
to any sentiment Of human pity.
If we take the view that punishment
should be retibutive there was never a
filter occasion for inhiction by society OF
rstribution on its enemies II we take
the view that punishment is exemplary,
the case seems to he equally clear"